College Notes: December 2012

West Stockbridge Man 'Coated' at Cornell Veterinary School

ITHACA, N.Y. — Eric Bliss participated in the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine's White Coat Ceremony on Dec. 1, receiving one of the most recognized symbols of the veterinary profession. Bliss is a member of the veterinary college's class of 2014 and is the son of Albert and Aileen Bliss of West Stockbridge, Mass.

"The white coat ceremony marks the transition of students from learning the language and scientific basis of medicine, to learning the art and science of the delivery of medicine," said Dr. Michael I. Kotlikoff, Austin O. Hooey Dean of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell. "Both elements are an essential part of medical education and an appropriate dose of each makes a good doctor."

During the ceremony, veterinarians and faculty who have provided mentorship to the students participated in the ceremony by "coating" the recipients. Bliss was coated by Dr. Monica Kennedy. Similarly, family and friends who have provided support and encouragement were asked to rise and be acknowledged at the time of coating.

Drury High Teacher Named 'Unsung Hero' by Former Student

COLCHESTER, Vt. — Drury High School teacher Molly Meczywor was selected as an "Unsung Hero" in the Saint Michael's College Teacher Recognition Program.

Meczywor, an English teacher, was nominated by Nolan Woods, who is a graduate of Drury High School in North Adams, Mass., and a current first-year student at Saint Michael's.

"I want to recognize her because she put up with 30 seniors who did not want to be there all year," he said. "I did not realize it at the time, but what I learned in that class really prepared me for college writing courses."

Jerry Flanagan, college vice president for admission and enrollment management, said the recognition program honors "teachers who provide their students with the academic skills and moral support necessary to be successful in post-secondary pursuits."

Enrollment, Acceptance & Studies

Amada Crespin of Pittsfield, a junior at Gettysburg College, spent the fall 2012 semester studying in England.
 

Dean's List & Honors
 

Shelby M. Sebring, the daughter of Barry and Tamala Sebring of Lanesborough, has been named to Randolph-Macon Academy's president's list for the first quarter of the 2012-13 school year for achieving a GPA of 4.0 or higher. Sebring is a sophomore at the college perp boarding school.

Olivia Wilber of Great Barrington was named to the dean's list at Dean College in Franklin for the fall 2012 semester. Wilber is also active on campus as a member of the Photography Club.

Mason Cranmer, Kaitlyn Faucher and Megan Kolis, all of Adams, Kevin McLaughlin of Pittsfield and Dante Vittone of Lanesborough have been named to the dean's list for the fall 2012 semester at the University of New Haven (Conn.)

♦ Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology has named the following students to the dean's list for the fall 2012 quarter:

Amanda Errichetto of Pittsfield; senior in the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.

Michael Keegan of Pittsfield; junior in the B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences.

Daniel Mansen of Lanesborough; junior in the College of Liberal Arts.

♦ Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y., has named the following local students to the dean's and president's lists for the fall 2012 semester. The students and their fields of study are:

Dean's list (grade-point average between 3.0 and 3.5)

Garrett Norton of Housatonic; automotive technical service.

Jeremy Welsh of North Adams; heating/air conditioning/refrigeration technical services.

Kaitlyn Walton of Pittsfield; dental hygiene.

Travis Wilton of West Stockbridge; automotive technical service.

Zachary Wilton of West Stockbridge; automotive technical service.

President's list  (GPA 3.5 to 4.0)

Sara Sworzen of Adams; dental hygiene.

Kenneth Benson of Great Barrington; computer information dystems, Web design and programming

Dylan Seward of Great Barrington; construction.

Cameron Guillou of Pittsfield; automotive management.

Conner Haughey of Pittsfield; automotive technical service.

Daniel Kochapski of Pittsfield; mortuary science academic program.

iBerkshires lists honors and news for local college students or for those attending private schools outside the area by month under "College Notes." Have your school send information to info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Affordable Housing Initiatives Shine Light, Hope

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
07:08AM / Saturday, December 20, 2025

Housing Secretary Edward Augustus cuts the ribbon at The First on Thursday with housing officials and Mayor Peter Marchetti, state Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The holidays are here and several community members are celebrating it with the opening of two affordable housing initiatives. 

 

"This is a day to celebrate," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said during the ribbon-cutting on Thursday. 

 

The celebration was for nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at "The First" located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. A ceremony was held in the new Housing Resource Center on First Street, which was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. 

 

The apartments will be leased out by Hearthway, with ServiceNet as a partner. 

 

Prior to the ribbon-cutting, public officials and community resource personnel were able to tour the two new permanent supported housing projects — West Housatonic Apartments and The First Street Apartments and Housing Resource Center. 

 

The First Street location has nine studio apartments that are about 300 square feet and has a large community center. The West Housatonic Street location will have 28 studio units that range between 300 to 350 square feet. All units can be adapted to be ADA accessible. 

 

The West Housatonic location is still under construction with the hope to have it completed by the middle of January, said Chris Wilett, Hearthway development associate.